After a weekend sweep of Virginia Tech and a midweek victory at James Madison, the Virginia softball team returns to Charlottesville to host No. 22 North Carolina.
The Cavaliers (19-13, 5-0 ACC) have cruised through the second half of March, winning six of their last seven contests. The sweep at Virginia Tech was the first since the 1998 season. Virginia then edged James Madison 5-4 Wednesday, with sophomore shortstop Clara Kendall leading the team with three RBIs. Freshman pitcher Melanie Mitchell tallied her 15th win of the season, throwing a complete game with seven Ks and no walks.
Although they are still undefeated in ACC play, the Cavaliers will be tested by the dominant pitching of North Carolina this weekend.
"UNC in the past has been a strong team," freshman second baseman Alex Skinkis said. "They're ranked up there pretty high, so it'd be nice to keep our streak going."
The Tar Heels' Danielle Spaulding, a two-time ACC Player of the Year and a two-time NFCA All-American, leads North Carolina's pitching lineup.
"It's always a good challenge, she's a good pitcher, so mostly it's just about having confidence and knowing that we can take her," senior right fielder Sarah Tacke said.
Spaulding holds her opponents to a scant .111 batting average, the best in the ACC. She also ranks second in the conference in earned run average, posting an impressive 0.91 ERA.
As a team, however, the Tar Heels have struggled in ACC play, dropping series against Georgia Tech and N.C. State.
Virginia will look to Tacke for leadership at the plate. Leading the team with a .410 batting average, Tacke also boasts a team-high 27 RBIs on the season.
The Cavaliers also will call upon Skinkis, who was named ACC Player of the Week March 30. She was a vital contributor to the Cavaliers' sweep of the Hokies, going 4-9 at the plate with two RBIs.
"We've been able to keep things simple, like working aggressive, getting out bunts down, and being aggressive," coach Eileen Schmidt said of the team's performance this season.
The three-game series against the Tar Heels kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
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